Ghost - Demi Moore

directed by Jerry Zucker
USA 1990

Ghost was a huge commercial success, and Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore were never more popular. Whoopi Goldberg won an Oscar for making a hysterical (as in hysterics, not laughter) display of herself. Every time that I watch this movie, I wonder why the moviemakers never showed shots of Whoopi hugging and making out with Demi. After all, that is what literally happens when the spirit of Patrick Swayze’s character inhabits Whoopi Goldberg’s character in order to interact with Demi Moore’s character. As with most crowd-pleasing love stories, Ghost is schmaltzy pap that tries to avoid offending viewers. In the process, the movie offends because it does nothing to encourage its audience to change and grow.

Yunda Eddie Feng

Poster

Theatrical Release: 13 July 1990

Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews

DVD Review: Paramount (Special Collector's Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC

Big thanks to Yunda Eddie Feng for the Review!

DVD Box Cover		CLICK to order from:
Distribution	Paramount Region 1 - NTSC
Runtime	126 minutes
Video	1.85:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate
Audio	Dolby Digital 5.1 English, Dolby Digital 2.0 surround English, Dolby Digital 2.0 surround French
Subtitles	Optional English
Features	Release Information: Studio: Paramount Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 1.85:1 Edition Details: • audio commentary by director Jerry Zucker and writer Bruce Joel Rubin • Ghost Stories: The Making of a Classic • Inside the Paranormal • Alchemy of a Love Scene • Cinema's Great Romances • Theatrical Trailer • Photo Gallery DVD Release Date: 12 March 2007 keepcase Chapters 16

Comments:

Video:
The 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen picture exhibits a few specks and minor scratches but is otherwise sharp and clear. There is some edge enhancement, and flesh tones are a bit red sometimes.

Audio:
Despite Whoopi Goldberg’s frantic flailings, the Dolby Digital 5.1 English track is generally front-center-channel heavy, though the music sounds warm and vibrant.

You can watch the movie with a DD 2.0 surround English track or a DD 2.0 surround French dub. Optional English subtitles as well as optional English subtitles support the audio.

Extras:
The new Special Collector’s Edition offers a lot of extras that should entice the movie’s fans to double dip. Of course, these extras are “beneficial” only if you like the movie in the first place. They are of little consequence to non-fans.

This DVD edition includes an audio commentary by director Jerry Zucker and writer Bruce Joel Rubin. Ghost is a professional highpoint for both men (Rubin won an Oscar for Original Screenplay), so their comments are mostly fond recollections of a great time in their lives.

“Ghost Stories: The Making of a Classic” is a retrospective featurette with vintage on-the-set video footage of rehearsals and downtime as well as interviews that were shot recently. “Inside the Paranormal” offers interviews with psychics and “mediums”. “Alchemy of a Love Scene” focuses on Swayze and Moore fooling around with wet clay.

“Cinema’s Great Romances” uses the American Film Institute’s “100 Great Movies” promotional campaign to advertise other love stories from Paramount. Finally, you get a photo gallery, the trailer for Ghost, and trailers for other Paramount titles.

- Yunda Eddie Feng

DVD Menus